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The estimated dividend rate (a percentage of the share price) to be paid (expected dividends) to holders of the underlying shares over the option's term.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (f)(2)(iii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Expected term of share-based compensation awards, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.D.2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (f)(2)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 14

-Section D

-Subsection 2

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- Definition

The estimated measure of the percentage by which a share price is expected to fluctuate during a period. Volatility also may be defined as a probability-weighted measure of the dispersion of returns about the mean. The volatility of a share price is the standard deviation of the continuously compounded rates of return on the share over a specified period. That is the same as the standard deviation of the differences in the natural logarithms of the stock prices plus dividends, if any, over the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (f)(2)(ii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

The risk-free interest rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (f)(2)(iv)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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Stock-Based Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans - Weighted-Average Assumptions for Fair Value for Stock Options (Detail) (Non Performance-Based Stock Options [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Vicor [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate	1.20%	0.70%	1.80%
Expected dividend yield	0.00%	0.60%	1.60%
Expected volatility	39.00%	52.00%	54.00%
Expected lives (years)	4 years 10 months 24 days
Vicor [Member] \| Two Thousand Twelve [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Expected lives (years)	4 years 1 month 6 days
Vicor [Member] \| Two Thousand Eleven [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Expected lives (years)	5 years
VI Chip [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate	1.60%	1.20%	1.50%
Expected dividend yield
Expected volatility	48.00%	50.00%	49.00%
Expected lives (years)	6 years 6 months
VI Chip [Member] \| Two Thousand Twelve [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Expected lives (years)	6 years 6 months
VI Chip [Member] \| Two Thousand Eleven [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Expected lives (years)	6 years 6 months
Picor [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate	1.20%	1.20%	1.60%
Expected dividend yield
Expected volatility	49.00%	50.00%	52.00%
Expected lives (years)	6 years 6 months
Picor [Member] \| Two Thousand Twelve [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Expected lives (years)	6 years 6 months
Picor [Member] \| Two Thousand Eleven [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Expected lives (years)	6 years 6 months